Clever Dad Hacks Donkey Kong Game So Daughter Can Play As a Girl

In a bit of ingenuity, a game developer named Mike Mika managed to hack the classic video game Donkey Kong so that instead of playing as Mario, his three-year-old daughter could play as Pauline, one of the female characters who usually needs to be rescued.

Mika’s quest began at the urging of his little girl, who asked him a simple question:

How can I play as the girl? I want to save Mario!"

To use some Donkey Kong lingo, most people would be over a barrel trying to figure out how to alter the game, but Mika had some help from a friend. He pulled an all-nighter working on his project before it eventually paid off, with word of his mission quickly getting some Reddit love, as well.

And his daughter loved it. Mika said, “She really did seem to enjoy the game more. For whatever reason, she was more motivated to play as Pauline than as Mario.”

Way to go, Dad! Now, if he can just find a way to make those Angry Birds be a little happier.